Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 26, 1961 L. o. STUTRUD 0 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Lynn 0. Stufrud BY flwg W His Affofney Sept. 26, 1961 o. STUTRUD REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12. 1959 Fig. 3

INVENTOR. Lynn 0 S/u/rua Ivor/2% Ms A United States Patent 9 3,001,378 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Lynn 0. Stutrud, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 792,845 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-157) This invention pertains to refrigerating apparatus and especially to an arrangement for the quick chilling of any desired objects or edibles in a household refrigerator.

Ordinarily the low normal temperature of a household evaporator is relied upon for the chilling of liquids, edibles and various objects. Such evaporators usually provide cooling for storage purposes at both below and above freezing temperatures. Consequently, it is economical both in the initial cost of the system and in operating costs to operate the evaporator at temperatures no lower than are required for the storage of edibles at below and above freezing temperatures. At such economical temperatures, such as 10 F., only slow chilling can be obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide a quick chilling arrangement for a refrigerator providing storage at below freezing temperatures.

It is another object of this invention to provide a quick chilling arrangement for a refrigerator provided with storage at both below and above freezing temperatures.

It is another object of this invention to provide an arrangement for concentrating the refrigeration in a small part of the evaporator for limited periods of time.

It is another object of this invention to provide an arrangement for reducing the temperature of a small part of an evaporator far below normal.

It is another object of this inventiontto provide a plate type evaporator formed to enclose two adjoining compartments refrigerated on the top, bottom, inner and outer sides in such a way that both compartments may be cooled substantially equally or one compartment cooled to a greater extent while a satisfactory minimum of refrigeration is maintained for the other compartment.

These and other objects are attained in the form shown in the drawings in which the freezing compartment is provided with a roll bonded sheet metal plate type evaporator formed into a figure 8 so as to enclose a smaller and larger freezing compartment side by side. A horizontal insulated wall beneath the freezing compartment insulates the below freezing compartment from the above freezing compartment which is refrigerated by a separate tailing evaporator in the form of a single vertical refrigerated plate. The refrigerant liquefying apparatus located in the machinery compartment is controlled according to the temperature of this refrigerated plate normally and withdraws evaporated refrigerant from the common inner side of the two compartments and the top of the larger compartment, liquefies the refrigerant and forwards the liquefied refrigerant in parallel to the top of the smaller compartment and the bottom of the larger compartment. One portion of the refrigerant flows successively around the smaller compartment through passages in the top, outer side, bottom and the common inner side. The second portion of the refrigerant flows successively through passages in the bottom, outer side and top of the larger compartment.

A solenoid valve is energized by a manually operated switch which also shunts the normal thermostatic control and is provided with a series holding coil in series with a timer to shut cif the flow of refrigerant to the bottom, outer side and top of the larger compartment for a period of time to concentrate the refrigeration in the smaller compartment for the rapid freezing of liquids and edibles.

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The period of time is sufiiciently long and the temperature attained is sufficiently low that most vessels of liquid and edibles can be frozen without allowing the temperature of the larger below freezing compartment to rise too high or the above freezing compartment to vary beyond desirable limits from normal.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a household refrigerator with the door open embodying one form of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a development of the evaporator provided for the below freezing compartment of the refrigerator shown in FIGURE 1 together with a diagrammatic representation of the remainder of the refrigerating system' and its controls;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the below freezing evaporator; and

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the below freezing evaporator.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet 20 having outer insulated walls enclosing an above freezing food compartment 22 having shelves 24 therein for supporting food. Beneath the food compartment 22 is a machinery compartment 26 separated by insulation from the food compartment 22. Above the food compartment 22 is a horizontal insulated wall 28 above which are a small below freezing compartment 30 and a larger below freezing compartment 32. These below freezing compartments 30 and 32 are enclosed by a single roll bonded sheet metal plate evaporator 34. This evaporator 34 is in the form of a long rectangular strip of roll bonded sheet metal containing refrigerant passages. This strip is developed as shown in dFIGURE 2 and formed as shown in FIGURES 3 an This plate 34 successively provides the top portion 36, the outer, side portion 38, the bottom portion 40 of the small below freezing compartment 30 and continues to form the common inner side wall 41 of the compartments 30 and 32 and the top 42, the outer side Wall 44 and the bottom wall 46 of the larger below freezing compartment 32. The plate 34 is supplied with liquefied refrigerant by a sealed motor-compressor unit 48 which compresses evaporated refrigerant drawn from the plate 34 and compresses this refrigerant and forces the compressed refrigerant through the condenser 50 Where the compressed refrigerant is liquefied and flows through a capillary tube restrictor 52 or other flow control device to an inverted T-shaped selenoid valve 54. From the valve 54, two refrigerant conduits 56 and 58 extend to and connect to separate refrigerant passages 60 and 62 in the plate 34 provided with connections at the one end. The passage 60 connects to an enlarged passage portion 64 in the top portion 36 of the plate 34 which portion 64 is connected by parallel passages 66 with the following passage portion 68 formed in the side wall 38. The flow from the portion 68 is controlled by the portions 70 containing no passages. The refrigerant flows from the passage portion 68 through parallel refrigerant passages 72 to the passage portion 74 located in the portion 40. The flow of refrigerant from the passage portion 74 is controlled by the portions 76 containing no passages which serve to control the flow through the passages 78 to the passage portion 80 in the common inner side wall 41.

The passage 62 extends successively through the portions 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 44 and 46 in succession along one edge of the plate 34 where in the bottom portion 46 it connects with the passage portion 82 supplied through branch passages 84. The bottom-passage portion-82 is" connected through pasage 86 with the passage portion 88 in the outer sidewall 44 which connects through the passage 96 to the serpentine passage section 92 in the top wall 42 of the below freezing compartment 32. The

outlet 94 of theserpentine passage section 92 is joined with the'outlet 96 of the passage portion 80 to a common suction passage 8 extending along the edge opposite to the edge containing the passage 62 to an outlet connection 121.

The outlet 121 connects through an outlet conduit 123 to the'bottom of the refrigerated plate 125 mounted vertically adjacentthe upper portion of the rear wall of the above freezing food compartment 22. The upper portion of this refrigerated plate 125 is connected by the suction conduit 127 to the suction inlet of the motorcompressor unit 48.

The'operation of the sealed motor-compressor unit 48 is normally controlled by a snap acting thermostatic switch 129 controlled in accordance with the temperatures of the thermostat bulb 131 mounted adjacent the lower edge of the vertical refrigerated plate 125. The switch 129 has its switch contacts connected in series with the conductor 133. The thermostatic switch 129 is set so as to start the sealed motor-compressor unit 48 when the temperature of the plate 125 in the vicinity of thebulb 131 reaches a temperature of about 35 F. to insure defrosting of the plate 34 every off cycle and continues the operation of the system until the plate 125 is cooled to a temperature of about F. The liquefied refrigerant flows from the valve 54 in parallel through the supply conduits 56 and 58 to the passages 6t and 62. The liquid flows from these passages 60 and 62 to opposite ends of the plate 34 and thence flow toward the center thereof. During this flow, the-liquefied refrigerant evaporates to normallymaintain the compartments 30 and 32 at an average temperature of about F. The evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn through the passage 98. This refrigerating system thus normally maintains suitable temperatures in the compartments 30 and 32 for normal storage at below freezing temperatures while the plate 125 maintains the above freezing compartment 22 at satisfactory storage temperatures above 32 F. Both the below freezing compartments 3t) and 32 and the above freezing compartment are closed by a single common door 163. An inner door 164 shown in open position closes and seals both compartments 3! and 32.

Although under these circumstances, the temperatures are satisfactory for normal storage purposes, it is often desired to chill or freeze liquids, edibles and other objects much more rapidly. To do this, I provide a manually operable push type switch mechanism 135 having a switch element 137 bridging contacts 139 closing a shunt circuit 141 which shunts the contacts of the thermostatic switch 129. The closing of the contacts 137 and 139 also energizes the holding coil 141 connected in series with the contacts of a timing device 143 which is also in series with a solenoid coil 145 of the inverted T-shaped valve 54.

This solenoid 145 acts to attract the armature 147 to move the valve element 149 upwardly until it closes otfv the portion of the valve 54- which feeds the conduit 58. This shuts off the flow of refrigerant to the bottom 46, the outer side 44 and the top 42 of the larger refrigerated below freezing compartment 32. The holding coil 14 acts on an armature 151 connected to the switch 135 and the contacts137 to hold the switch contacts 137 in the closed position bridging the contacts 139. Refrigerant now flows only through the passage portions 64, 68, '74 and $0 in succession through the top 36, the outer side 38, the bottom 40 and the inner side portion 42 surrounding the small below freezing compartment 30. Refrig- BTEHLnfllSO continues toflow through the refrigerated. plate 125% continue cooling of the above freezing com-s partment 22. This will quickly cool the small below freezing compartmentfitl to temperatures of about -30 F. a

which will much more rapidly freeze and congeal liquids, edibles and other objects placed therein. The larger be low freezing compartment 32 receives sufficient cooling through the common inner side wall portion 4-1 having the refrigerant passages 39 to keep it from rising above freezing temperatures and to maintain satisfactory below freezing refrigerating temperatures.

The timer permits this intensified refrigeration for a period of time suflicient to freeze and congeal the liquids, edibles and other objects intended to be quickly frozen in the small compartment 30. To prevent the compartmeat-32 from being too long without full refrigeration,

at the end of this timed period the timer 143 will open the timer circuit to deenergize the solenoid 145 of the valve 54 and also the holding coil 141. This will allow the valve element 149 to drop to its original position and to open the connection to the refrigerant conduit 58. At the same time, the holding coil 141 will release the armature 151 to allow the switch 137 to the open position shown in FIGURE 2. This will restore the system to normal'operation under the control of the thermostatic switch 129.

While the embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Refrigerating apparatus including evaporating means arranged in two sections having a conduit connection connecting their outlets together, an outlet conduit connecting to said-conduit connection, separate liquid supply conduits connecting individually to said two sections remote from the conduit connection connecting them together, conduit and valve means having one position for delivering refrigerant to both of: said supply conduits and a second position for delivering refrigerant to only one of said supply conduits, refrigerant liquefying means for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said outlet conduit and delivering liquefied refrigerant to said valve means, manual control means for moving said valve means from said one position to said second position, and timing means for limiting the period of time said valve means is in said second position.

2. Refrigerating apparatus including evaporating means arranged in two sections having a conduit connection connecting their outlets together, an outlet conduit connecting tosaid conduit connection, separate liquid sup-' ply conduits connecting individually to said two sections remote from the conduit connection connecting them together, conduit and valve means having one position for delivering refrigerant to both of said supply conduits and a second position for delivering refrigerant to only one of said supply conduits, a second evaporating means having an inlet connected to said outlet conduit and hav ing an outlet, refrigerant liquefying means for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said outlet and delivering liquefied refrigerant to said valve means, and thermostatic control means responsive to. the temperature of-said second evaporator for controlling the operation of said liquefying means.

3. Refrigerating apparatus including an insulated cabinet containing an above freezing compartment and a below freezing compartment, a first evaporating means arranged in two sections for cooling said below freezing compartment, a second evaporating means for cooling said above freezing compartment having its inlet connected to the outlet of said first evaporating means, refrigerant liquefying means for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from the second evaporating means'and for liquefying said evaporated refrigerant, conduit and valve means having a first position for conducting liquefied refrigerant from said liquefying means to said two sections 4. Refrigerating apparatus including an insulated cabinet containing an above freezing compartment and a below freezing compartment, a first evaporating means arranged in two sections for cooling said below freezing compartment, a second evaporating means for cooling said above freezing compartment having its inlet connected to the outlet of said first evaporating means, refrigerant liquefying means for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from the second evaporating means and for liquefying said evaporated refrigerant, conduit and valve means having a first position for conducting liquefied refrigerant from said liquefying means to said two sections of said first evaporating means and having a second position for conducting said liquefied refrigerant from said liquefying means to only one of said two sections, thermostatic control means responsive to the temperature of said second evaporating means for normally controlling the operation of said liquefying means, and means effective coincidentally to the positioning of said valve means in said second position for causing maximum operation of said liquefying means.

5. Refrigerating apparatus including evaporating means arranged in two sections having a conduit connection connecting their outlets together, an outlet conduit connecting to said conduit connection, separate liquid supply conduits connecting individually to said two sections remote from the conduit connection connecting them together, conduit and valve means having one position for delivering refrigerant to both of said supply conduits and a second position for delivering refrigerant to only one of said supply conduits, a second evaporating means having an inlet connected to said outlet conduit and having an outlet, and refrigerant liquefying means for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said outlet and delivering liquefied refrigerant to said valve means, thermostatic control means responsive to the temperature of said second evaporating means for normally controlling said liquefying means, and means effective coincidentally to the positioning of said valve means in said second position for causing maximum operation of said liquefying means.

6. Refrigerating apparatus including evaporating means arranged in two sections having a conduit connection connecting their outlets together, an outlet conduit connecting to said conduit connection, separate liquid supply conduits connecting individually to said two sections remote from the conduit connectionconnecting them together, conduit and valve means having one position for delivering refrigerant to both of said supply conduits and a second position for delivering refrigerant to only one of said supply conduits, refrigerant liquefying means for Withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from said outlet conduit and delivering liquefied refrigerant to said valve means, a first electrically operated means for moving said valve means to said second position, a timing means, a manually operable normally open switch for energizing said first electrically operated means and said timing means, a second electrically operated means for holding said switch in the closed position after it has been manually closed, and said timing means having means for deenergizing said first and second electrically operated means after a predetermined period of time to return said valve means to said first position.

7. Refrigerating apparatus including an evaporating means embodying a long plate in the form of a figure 8 turned horizontally enclosing first and second adjoining compartments with the plate forming successively the top, outer side and bottom of the first compartment, and

the common inner side between the first and second compartments as well as the top, outer side and bottom of the adjoining second compartment, said plate being provided with a first set of refrigerant passages extending successively on the top, outer side, bottom and the common inner side of the first compartment and a second set of refrigerant passages extending successively on the bottom, outer side and top of the second compartment, said plate having a common outlet connection for both sets connecting with the passages on said common inner side and the passages in the top of said second compart ment.

8. Refrigerating apparatus including an evaporating means embodying a long plate in the form of a figure 8 turned horizontally enclosing first and second adjoining compartments with the plate forming successively the top, outer side and bottom of the first compartment, and the common inner side between the first and second compartments as well as the top, outer side and bottom of the adjoining second compartment, said plate being provided with a first set of refrigerant passages extending successively on the top, outer side, bottom and the common inner side of the first compartment and a second set of refrigerant passages extending successively on the bottom, outer side and top of the second compartment, said plate having a common outlet connection connecting to the passages in the common inner side and the passages in the top of said second compartment, said plate also having inlet connections connecting to the passages in the top of said first compartment and the passages in the bottom of said second compartment.

9. Refrigerating apparatus including an evaporating means embodying a long plate in the form of a figure 8 turned horizontally enclosing first and second adjoining compartments with the plate forming successively the top, outer side and bottom of the first compartment, and the common inner side between the first and second compartments as well as the top, outer side and bottom of the adjoining second compartment, said plate being provided with a first set of refrigerant passages extending successively on the top, outer side, bottom and the common inner side of the first compartment and a second set of refrigerant passages extending succesively on the bottom, outer side and top of the second compartment, said plate having a common connection connecting to the passages in the common inner side and the passages in the top of said second compartment, refrigerant liquefying means having a connection with said common connection for withdrawing evaporated refrigerant from the passages in the common inner side and the passages in the top of said second compartment and having other connections for supplying liquefied refrigerant to the passages in the top of said first compartment and the passages in the bottom of said second compartment, and selective means for shutting off the flow of liquefied refrigerant to said second compartment and continuing the flow of liquefied refrigerant to the first compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,018,747 Stout Oct. 29, 1935 2,128,020 Smilak Aug. 23, 1938 2,312,861 Atchison Mar. 2, 1943 2,325,706 Philipp Aug. 3, 1943 2,539,908 Jenkins Jan. 30, 1951 2,682,158 Powell June 29, 1954 

